Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-11-19
SELECTIONS.
SUM MING 1T UP.

Now that time has been given for
excitement to subside and passion
to cool, a more accurate judgment
can be passed upon Tuesdays cleo
lions in the different states and the
results likely to flow from them.
The triumph of the Republicans in
New Jersey was a complete surprise.
That state has been reckoned as
safely in the Democratic column.
From a national standpoint, it dash
es the Democratic hope of securing
a majority in the United States Sen
ate, and insures the country against
reckless and protiigate legislation in
Congress. The loss of RIddleberger
in Virginia will thus be offset by a
real gain from New Jersey. 1t adds
to the perplexities of the Democrats
IN the next campaign by emphasizing
the necessity of carrying two or
three states which are never reliable,
no matter what they may do in off
years.
In Massachusetts, the administra-
ton has received a decided rebuke
from its mugwump friends. Cleye-
lands silent endorsement of Lover.
ing did not give him the anticipated
support, and the Republican major
ity in that state has been greatly in.
creased for reasons which will pro
baby prove potent in 1888 as we'll.
All hope of recruits in that direction
must, therefore, be definitely aban.
doned.
Rhode Island has resumed her al.
legiance to the Republican party,
and has determined the status of the
lower branch of Congress upon a
call of States, should a president not
be elected by the popular vote.
Although the Republicans can
elect President without the aid of
New York by victories in New Jer-
sey, Indiana and Connecticut, New
York is still the most conspicuous
battle ground, and the Democrat
who imagines that his party will
have walkover in that state for
Cleveland is. to say the least, more
sangulne than discreet. Local issues
on Tuesday interfered with a fair
expression of party sentiment; but
the one thing which exerted para
mount influence upon the result
was the letter of Cleveland encors.
ing the Democratic ticket, and the
supplement endorsing Fellows, the
man who confessed to having been
in the pay of Boss Tweed. In the
heat of the campaign the voters did
not stop to think. Thousands voted
for the Democratic ticket for no
other reason than that the PreSi-
dent-whom they had accustomed
themselves to regard with something
akin to idolatry-had written a let
ter endorsing it. A large majority
of those who were thus influenced,
when they review their action in the
light of calm reflection, will not
think better of themselves, and will
reach the conclusion that their idol
has betrayed them. We scarcely re-
gard it as hazardous to venture the
prediction that this open interference
of professedly civil service reform
president with the local politics of
city and state will be regarded diff.
ferently by reputable citizens after
sober Judgment has taken the place
of passion and partisanship.
There Is no precedent for it in the
government OF the country. Presi-
dents have at times favored the
nominations of particular indivi-
duals, but they have been very care
full not to violate official propriety or
degrade the dignity of the chief
magistrate of the nation by writing
open letters on the subject. They
have at least had the grace to act
through agents, but Cleveland does
not seem to have thought Whitney's
influence sufficient without his own
sign-manual. He owed his election
in New York, in 1884, to the indie
pendents. and the latter may turn
away from him in the honr of his